Born: France

The French conductor, Martin Gester, studied music at the Strasbourg Conservatoire and literature at the University of Strasbourg, before turning to singing and polyphony, then to the organ and the harpsichord.

After his first recording, devoted to the organ works by J.S. Bach, Martin Gester chose to divide his time between research, interpretation on the harpsichord and the organ, conducting (singers and ensembles) and teaching, with a particular interest in the 17^th and 18^th century repertoires.

In 1990 Martin Gester formed Le Parlement de Musique, and from then on devoted himself to this ensemble and to the building up its repertoire, whilst pursuing his activities as an organist and harpsichordist, and also as guest conductor with other ensembles (Nederlandse Bach Vereniging, Musica Aeterna Bratislava, Ghent Collegium Vocale & Chapelle Royale, La Capella Real-Lisbon, Orchestre des Pays de Savoie, and, more regularly, with L'Arte dei Suonatori Wroclaw and the New York Collegium).

Martin Gester has given recitals and concerts in most European countries, as well as in America and Asia. Altogether, as a soloist and as the conductor of Le Parlement de Musique, he has made about forty recordings, many of which have been acclaimed by the critics and showered with awards. In his interpretations, he likes to explore the relationships that exist between music and gesture, dance, drama, declamation and oral tradition, in his search for a style combining refinement and dramatic qualities.

Martin Gester is head of the Department of Early Music at the Strasbourg Conservatoire, where he gives classes in the interpretation of the Baroque repertoire to singers and instrumentalists. He also teaches regularly at various academies and institutions (Versailles and Alsace ; but also in Germany, Mexico, and the USA - Stanford University, New York).

In 2001 Martin Gester was made a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.

Source: Le Parlement de musique Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2002)

Martin Gester: Martin Gester | Le Parlement de Musique | Recordings

Links to other Sites

? Le Parlement de Musique - Martin Gester - Musique Baroque [French/English/German]

Martin Gester, la passion du baroque [French]
Vivre en Ville: Le Parlement de musique

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